My opinion- Finish off the O-line now...

[Chuck 54]

Draft Blalock.
Our line would be a scary collection of road graters.

NO way...NO how...where would he play?

You're paying big bucks to every player on your line right now except for Colombo, and you're paying him too much to be a backup...Blalock would have been on my radar had we not resigned Colombo...now it would just put a good OL making millions on the bench...we won't do it.

 

[silverbear]

Agreed, but I highly doubt Dallas goes OG at pick #22. So, maybe Ramirez will be there in the 2nd round.




Yeah, but it was improved from a year earlier. You don't get to be #5 in Total Offense with a bad offensive line.




Nobody wins a championship with weak offensive lines. Probably the weakest offensive line from a Super Bowl champion were the Broncos in the late 90s. Shanahan had them doing those cheap cut blocks that never got called.

And, yes, the 1995 Cowboy offensive line was the best ever.

Tuinei - Newton - Donaldson - Allen - Williams

The BEST EVER!

Cut it out, you're makin' me nostalgic...

 

[Alexander]

Or are you saying there are no guards out there good enough to possibly put Kosier on the bench?? Mind you, I'm not down on Kosier, but I certainly don't consider him irreplaceable in the starting lineup...

There are QBs better than Romo in this draft.

There are RBs better than Jones in this draft.

That is no reason to make those positions a high priority.

We need depth on the offensive line. No question. But that should not have to come at the expense of short changing a need at a crucial position on this team.

Kosier is adequate and most of the time, that is all you need a guard to be.

My simple reasoning is that unless you think the player can start his first year, don't draft him in the first round.

We aren't quite good enough yet to have that luxury.

I'd even be comfortable with drafting an offensive lineman in the first round, but I'd want the Boys to trade down a few picks if they decide to go that way...

That's a questionable strategy. Just trading down to trade down is never a good practice.

My top two offensive line targets in this draft would be Justin Blalock and Manny Ramirez... I happen to believe that either one could compete for a starting job this year...

That means Kosier is your weakest link then. That would tell me that you are "down" on him. Just admit that and we can move on.

 

[silverbear]

I love the draft, it's just we have more pressing needs than an OG

You see, I don't think we do have more pressing needs than our offensive line... we have a LOT of firepower on that offense, if we can put a solid offensive line on the field we'll be downright unstoppable...

ok, doesn't mean they will be because some analyst thinks he will

Chuckle... no, the draft is not an exact science... at the same time, ALL we have to go on are the opinions of the "experts"...

all I'm saying is w/ Kosier at LG, and Davis at RG, the OG position just went down in priority, I know you want a line full of maulers, but Kosier fits the system we're trying to run, and was good in his role

Listen, I'm not down on Kosier at all... but yeah, I want a big, physical offensive line, while Kosier is more what they call a "technician"... it would appear from the signing of Davis that Wade Phillips is more of a fan of big offensive linemen too, so perhaps Kosier won't be that good a fit in his "system"... we haven't seen what Wade's "system" is gonna be vis a vis our offensive line, so any opinions you have about how Kosier fits in it is premature...

In addition, my argument is that the offensive line needs to be upgraded... not just OG, the entire line... we need better depth at tackle, IMO, and we DEFINITELY need a quality backup at center...

yes, Blalock can play OT if he's the last-man standing out of 4, but that doesn't mean that ability to play OT is worth anything, he's an OG, he doesn't project to OT, so I would quit saying he could play OT in a pinch, because that means he can slide over there to compete for a starting job, he won't

No, saying "in a pinch" CLEARLY implies that would only happen in an EMERGENCY... further, that argument was offered to counter your suggestion that he (and Ramirez) will NEVER play tackle in the NFL...

I was just pointing out that they can do exactly that, if their team is in dire straits at the position, and needs somebody to fill in...

No, I don't see either of them playing tackle extensively in the NFL... indeed, it could work out that neither of them will ever play the position... they're gonna play guard in the NFL... but the verstatility, the ability to play another position if needed, is valued by teams working under a 53 man roster limit...

to you it is, and what about the pass-rush?

I'd advocate taking another pass rusher in the draft, even on the first day... it's clear that the Cowboys are looking at doing that, from the number of "tweeners" they interviewed at the Senior Bowl and at the Combine...

But where did I suggest that the Boys should use EVERY pick on offensive linemen?? I said they ought to use ONE first day pick, then perhaps another pick on the second day...

I'll also note that even if the Boys didn't make any personnel moves to improve their pass rush, it ought to be some better as a result of Wade Phillips' more aggressive, attacking scheme... the personnel on hand ought to be a good fit for that sort of an approach...

a potential #1 receiver?

Will be a need in a year or two, is not that big a need now... and WR is one position where a stud coming out of college can make an impact on his team in his rookie season...

Again, draft a WR at some point, and I'll be on board... it's just not as big a priority with me as improving the offensive line is...

that's the whole issue though, you seem to think that just because Blalock is a 1st day pick, that it's an automatic improvement on the line

No, I think that because I've seen him play a LOT in college-- if the Horns are anywhere to be found on DirecTV, you can bet I've got them tuned in... and I am dead morally certain that Justin Blalock is gonna be a very good pro...

For all their lofty rankings, I didn't get the same feeling about Leonard Davis and Mike Williams when they left Austin... I worried about their ability to keep their weight in check, and in Williams' case, thought that in spite of his size, he was a "soft" player...

how many 1st round picks did we use to acquire that line? Dallas hasn't taken an Olineman in the 1st since '83, and that's not going to change

Uhhh, it already HAS changed-- we've got not one, but TWO first rounders currently on our starting offensive line... one of them was the second pick overall in the draft...

I understand, I'm not down on Blalock or Ramirez either,

I know, bud... you didn't have to explain that to me...

but there's a number of other ways to go in the 1st round that I would rather explore, we don't need a backup OG who may win a starting job

But my argument isn't that the Boys ought to spend a first round pick on an offensive lineman, just a first DAY pick... that might well mean that Blalock is off the board, but Ramirez will still be there in the second, or perhaps even the third... as will a number of other quality offensive linemen...

Though I specifically mentioned my two favorites (Blalock and Ramirez), that doesn't mean there are no other options that I'd like...

 

[silverbear]

There are QBs better than Romo in this draft.

There are RBs better than Jones in this draft.

That is no reason to make those positions a high priority.

We need depth on the offensive line. No question. But that should not have to come at the expense of short changing a need at a crucial position on this team.

The thing is, I don't believe there Is a more crucial position of need on this team... I have been saying that for some months now; the single best way to take the next step forward is for the Cowboys to build a dominating offensive line...

If I was ever a GM of an NFL team, that would be the cornerstone of my philosophy-- build a great offensive line... such a line makes average quarterbacks look good, makes average running backs into 1250 yards a season backs, makes your defense better by keeping the other team's offense off the field...

My simple reasoning is that unless you think the player can start his first year, don't draft him in the first round.

A reasonable stance... the thing is, at pick 22, Justin Blalock will probably be the only offensive lineman on the board who CAN compete for a starting job... I am completely certain that if the Boys drafted him, he'd give Kosier a serious run for his money...

That means Kosier is your weakest link then. That would tell me that you are "down" on him. Just admit that and we can move on.

Yes, with Rivera on the bench (or off the team), that makes Kosier the weakest link... doesn't mean he's BAD, just that the others are more effective at their respective positions... rather than calling him the weakest link, I think I'd call him the most upgradable...

 

[lspain1]

Uhhh, it already HAS changed-- we've got not one, but TWO first rounders currently on our starting offensive line... one of them was the second pick overall in the draft...

But my argument isn't that the Boys ought to spend a first round pick on an offensive lineman, just a first DAY pick... that might well mean that Blalock is off the board, but Ramirez will still be there in the second, or perhaps even the third... as will a number of other quality offensive linemen...

...

WELL SAID silverbear!
:clap2:

The fact that we are using two 1st round picks on our OL should indicate that using a pick in round 1 (if the value is there) should not be automatically rejected.

Using a 1st day pick on the OL will indicate that Jerry & Co. "get it" that the OL can make or break an offense. Talent and depth obtained through the draft will end the FA patchwork we have experienced. I recognize that failed picks are one significant reason we are having to go the FA route, but that means we need to focus more effort (and picks) here, not less.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

We will not be using a 1st round pick on an offensive lineman.

Book it.

 

[ZeroClub]

We will not be using a 1st round pick on an offensive lineman.

Book it.

MW has roughtly a 78.260869% chance of being correct in this regard, according to the baserates. [23 - 5 = 18; 18 of 23 = 78.260869%]

 

[lspain1]

MW has roughtly a 78.260869% chance of being correct in this regard, according to the baserates. [23 - 5 = 18; 18 of 23 = 78.260869%]

OK, I KNOW I'm being setup for something here but I gotta ask....why 23?

 

[burmafrd]

because some people think the nickel back should be considered the same as a starter.

 

[burmafrd]

Blaylock is not worth a first rd pick. There are no guards worth a first rd pick. There are MABYE 2 other tackles besides the big guy that deserve a first rd pick and they will almost certainly be gone before ours. And we do not need to spend one on a tackle anyway. Might be able to trade down if one of them falls to us, though. There are no centers worth a first rd pick and we don't need to go that high for what will basically be a backup for us.
And please- that excuse that since Davis and Columbo were first rd picks FOR SOMEONE ELSE that that qualifies is BS. We will NOT use a first rd pick of OURS for a O lineman.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Blaylock is not worth a first rd pick. There are no guards worth a first rd pick. There are MABYE 2 other tackles besides the big guy that deserve a first rd pick and they will almost certainly be gone before ours. And we do not need to spend one on a tackle anyway. Might be able to trade down if one of them falls to us, though. There are no centers worth a first rd pick and we don't need to go that high for what will basically be a backup for us. And please- that excuse that since Davis and Columbo were first rd picks FOR SOMEONE ELSE that that qualifies is BS. We will NOT use a first rd pick of OURS for a O lineman.

I agree with the bolded part. There won't be an offensive lineman available at #22 worth drafting.